Normally, Skate America is in October---right around the time of Regionals. This year, Skate America just happens to be right around the time of Sectionals. So the USFS can use the host pick to exempt a skater from one of the Nationals preps.

For Regionals, the USFS could send a skater to an International "B": Finlandia (10/8 -11) or Ice Challege (10/22-25)

BTW, host picks come FIRST in the GP selection process, before the seed picks. That allows the hosts to pick their own skaters who happen to be seeded for the GP.

I know we will know the date of the Drawings eventually, but will we know the order of selection?

Sylvia reported above (posst 44) that the meeting for the draw will take place May 28-30.

As far as I know the ISU never reveals the draw order. I for one would be very interested in knowing what the order was.

I would be curious to see, for instance, if Mao Asada is the last one chosen from 4-6 because everyone is afraid of her , or whether she is the first chosen because organizing committees are trying to get the best available skaters for their events.

I would be curious to see, for instance, if Mao Asada is the last one chosen from 4-6 because everyone is afraid of her , or whether she is the first chosen because organizing committees are trying to get the best available skaters for their events.

4-6 would be Mao, Rachael and Laura, right? Here's my guess, then: Mao will go to NHK and TEB, just like last season; Rachael will get SA and CoC, and Laura will go to CoR and SC. No way does the Japanese federation not get Mao for NHK, while at TEB, none of the French ladies are really that competitive anyway so they'll want a major draw. Maybe they should aim to have Mao and Yu-Na !

I imagine USFSA will definitely want Rachael at SA, and Skate Canada will prefer to help Joannie have a good GP showing in the Olympic season so they'll get Lepisto in there. That leaves CoR and CoC, and since Finland is near Russia, I figure Laura will end up there (which also works for the Russian Fed, as Leonova could defeat her). But who knows. Maybe Mao will end up skating at CoR.

...Skate Canada will prefer to help Joannie have a good GP showing in the Olympic season so they'll get Lepisto in there.

Here is the funny thing to me. Skate Canada might get the short straw in the draw and be last to pick. When it comes their turn, maybe there is no one left except Mao, and they have to take her, thus foiling the plan to arrange a cakewalk for Joannie.

But this never seems to happen. I suppose Skate Canada would approach one of the other federations (France or China) and ask them to take Mao off the table and leave Lepesto. What favor would Canada then do in repayment?

Plus, last year she peaked at U.S. Nationals, but then ran out of steam. Maybe that is because she started so early, with U.S. Collegiates in August, and did a lot of skating early in the season. This season she could pace herself, do Skate America and Skate Canada as the last two Grand Prix events, then cruise on to U.S. Nationals and ...beyond!

Plus, last year she peaked at U.S. Nationals, but then ran out of steam. Maybe that is because she started so early, with U.S. Collegiates in August, and did a lot of skating early in the season. This season she could pace herself, do Skate America and Skate Canada as the last two Grand Prix events, then cruise on to U.S. Nationals and ...beyond!

I like your thinking. I'm pulling for this season to be one in which she builds on her Nationals success and come into her own. Go Alissa!!

You have to love it. Middle-age men in ill-fitting suits in a dimly lit, smoke filled room. Half empty beer bottles and crumpled cigarette packs on the table, making shady deals none of us will ever hear about.

You have to love it. Middle-age men in ill-fitting suits in a dimly lit, smoke filled room. Half empty beer bottles and crumpled cigarette packs on the table, making shady deals none of us will ever hear about.

I think when it come to the men the gp assignments won't matter. Between Weir,Evan, and Abbott who don't want to peak until nationals and olympics and Adam, Carrier, Mroz, Bradly who still need to prove themselves on the GP for the US judges to take notice. Sombody is going to have to nock each other out.Last year Carrier and Bradly had goods chances to make it to the GPFinal but both fail to match their performance in their first GP. Same thing goes for the French Brian, Ponsero, Albert, Florent,*Samuel Contesti.

I think when it come to the men the gp assignments won't matter. Between Weir,Evan, and Abbott who don't want to peak until nationals and olympics and Adam, Carrier, Mroz, Bradly who still need to prove themselves on the GP for the US judges to take notice. Sombody is going to have to nock each other out.Last year Carrier and Bradly had goods chances to make it to the GPFinal but both fail to match their performance in their first GP. Same thing goes for the French Brian, Ponsero, Albert, Florent,*Samuel Contesti.

Good rationale, enlight, but it's all in the points, and if Evan, Brian and Patrick each get 30 points, All the other Americans, French, and Canadian Men will probably not be included in the last six, although I am a big fan of Ponsero, I think it will be Kozuka, Brezina and Nobunari if not Weir. All getting minimum of 26 points.